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There was plenty of pre-draft talk about Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict and where he might land (and for those who don’t know, Burfict was the one-time first-round candidate who ended up going undrafted and signing with the Bengals.) But for all of Burfict’s hype, many thought he wasn’t even the best linebacker at ASU. That nod usually went to Colin Parker, who was one of 17 undrafted rookie free agents the Cards came to terms with:

WR Stanley Arukwe, Troy

LB Broderick Binns, Iowa

WR LaRon Byrd, Miami

G Braeden Clayson, Idaho State

FB Jared Crank, Purdue

G Blake DeChristopher, Virginia Tech

DE Tevita Finau, Utah

S Blake Gideon, Texas

WR Tre Gray, Richmond

LB Marcus McGraw, Houston

LB Zach Nash, Sacramento State

CB James Nixon, California (Pa.)

DE Conrad Obi, Colorado

LB Paul Vassallo, Arizona

C Scott Wedige, Northern Illinois

WR Marc Wilson, St. Anselm

And, of course, Parker from ASU.

The list is heavy on linebackers, not a shock after the team did not draft one this past weekend. The number brings the roster total to 85 86 (since apparently I can’t add 69 and 17), leaving five four spots still open for additions, whether they are veterans or otherwise. Because of the rookie minicamp in two weeks, the Cards will also be bringing in a handful of other young players for tryouts, making sure they have enough bodies to run the practices and taking a looksee at some guys.

44 Responses
to “With the undrafteds, the better Devil?”

Are the Cardinals that confident at the RB position? I don’t know about our health at the positio. Beanie with his knee, Williams with his Knee, La Rod and smith both have back issues dont they? I might be mistaken about th hypen but I know he was tainted with something last year. That might have been a hammy. But still, Surprised we didnt add anything this year. I just feel unsure at the position,

I feel that Ryan Lindley was the Quarterback the Cleveland Browns were looking for. Other than that, I don’t think that he should make it the final roster. Bartel trained really hard with the team and deserves a chance to be in the Cards. I feel that Lindley should be traded to the Steelers in return for a Linebacker. Lindley has talent but I believe he should go to another team. Senio Kelemente should be put on the practice squad, I don’t expect him to make it to the final roster either unless this team releases an Offensive Linemen.
My Predictions on who won’t make it to the Final roster(probably go to PS):
C Ryan Bartholomew
DE Ronald Talley
TE Martell Webb
RB William Powell
DT Ricky Lumpkins
WR Jaymar Johnson
CB Korey Lindsey
QB Ryan Lindley
G Senio Kelemente
Many of the Undrafted Free Agents as well

I take the assumption that I am the only Saint Anselm grad that is a season ticket holder. How in the world did they find that guy as a undrafted free agent from a d2 / d3 new Hampshire school with 2400 students….. Unless their is a different st A’s out there……

I think the reason there aren’t any other RB’s invited to training camp is that the Cards are happy with who they have and those players need reps. Get too many players in your not gonna get the reps you need on plays and sometime during the year it will come back to haunt you if you don’t know your plays by heart.

There is obviously some change coming, you say that Bartel deserves a roster spot but last time I checked he went in for one game and still lost it for us. It doesn’t matter if you deserve it, you have to compete for your job, which I believe that Bartel has not battled for his job, Ryan Lindley is a very talented quarterback who might win his job at second string, where Kevin Kolb might be on his way o

Ought to be an interesting fight for roster spots with Richard Bartel (number 2 on his back, but number 1 in third string backup possibilities), Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell easily fighting off the Conrad Obi kid, Patrick Peterson getting the CB spot hands down and the young WRs Laron Byrd and Stanley Arukwe looking to make the roster.
Personally, I’m hoping the final cuts include RB2D2 and C2P2 (OH! that guy’s good.) and Obi-LaRon- Arukwe. They would be a force the Cards could use.

And now, two more months ( approx ) until training camp starts…I swear, I HATE this part of the calender more and more every year! ARGH! The other major sports seem to go on FOREVER ( hell, baseball is STILL going on when football season is almost half over and hockey is STILL being played in JUNE for crying out loud!!! ) and it seems like about a month after they end, they are starting right back up again. Football? How ‘ bout a SOLID 7 MONTHS between the Super Bowl and the next opening day??? Sigh…but I guess that’s part of what makes the NFL so other-wordly successful – always give the people a little less than they want. It works! Ain’t NOTHING like opening day in the NFL!!!

Andy Kwong,
Amazing you could make those cuts before they ever take the practice field.

First, G Senio Kelemente will have to be bad not to get a roster spot, It sounds like they are high on him developing.

Second, Ronald Talley is a much better player than most of you think. He played towards the end of the year and could find himself in the rotation. (of course Dockett and Campbell start)

Third, Although Ryan Lindley was a sixth round pick, this guy is worth developing. I think Bartel is as good as he is going to be. With Kolb and Skelton battling it out, there is no need for a journeyman 3rd QB.

Finally, every year in every camp, someone surprises everyone and makes the team. Look at Victor Cruz 2 years ago for the Giants (i’m sure there are many other examples) Everyone loves a longshot. To be honest, I have no idea who it could be, but it would be nice for the Sun Devil Parker to be the guy.

Darrren; On a separate matter. Whiz loved the 2 DBs they drafted because the can play the slot, play outside as a CB and drop back as a safety. His comments lead me to believe this may be the future of DBs in a pass happy league. Question is,With the needed versitility and rule changes about big hits, do you see the guys like ADUB and Rhodes ( who are strickly safeties) becoming dinosaurs in this league? Or do you think there will always be a place for a guy who can light you up and can play in the box? ( I’m an ADUB and Rhodes fan, so not knocking them, just wondering if the evolution of the NFL is passing that type of player by)

I think the cardinals may have taken the best player available thing too far this year. There is something to be said for building a team around core group of guys and the constant churning of good people is going to hurt this team eventually, you cant keep throwing away boldin’s, and breastons, and Hightowers just because you grab some potential in the draft or have built a little depth behind him. not to mention what happened to Lienart.

I realize our coach probably went through every nfl season knowing he was on the cut list and it made him better but not everyone is wired that way some very good teams are built around a core. how many guys do we have left from our super bowl team? i think its just Darren and Wolf. ok its not that bad but its getting close.

A friend of mine, Pete Prisco of cbssports.com, believes the future of secondaries will be about four cornerbacks instead of two and two. That makes sense to me. So yes, I could see safeties like Wilson evolving into lighter linebackers.

Interesting topic of conversation, and for the time being I think you’re correct that we’ll see more CB’s being played/converted to Safeties across the board. However, I do think the NFL’s conversion into the Big 12 will run it’s course in due time, and we’ll see a return to the more traditional style of defense in the near future, especially when the reality of how most CB’s tackle rears it’s ugly head.

Brad o’nielle your being too dramatic about the super bowl thing, if you to tell me that the league hasn’t changed since our previous super bowl appearance then your wrong, adapt or die, that is what happens…look at the different angles between the Giants and the old style play of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the steelers aren’t a team that usually spreads you with wide out, instead incorporates running to keep the defense even-keel, while the Giants are a pass happy team with Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks…short story is that the team who adapts wins super bowls, the team who dwells in the past dies with the rest of the league

Parker is interesting, recruited to be a safety for the sun devils, he had little playing time until converting back to his HS position of LB. He then led the team in tackles in 2010 and 2011 and was improving in tackles for a loss and sacks.

Watching the tape, I see him take out a blocker ahead of Vontaze Burfict on multiple occasions, freeing burfict to make the big play.

– I was NOT happy with 1st 2 picks on draft day! # I TOTALLY RETRACT MY LAST POST!!! # I am well put in place! What the H do I know about big picture stuff!!! I fell in love with DeCastro! Stupid fan! and after checking out Flemings Stats, WOW! and to still get Massie in 4th!!! AAaawwesommme!!!!!

BPA is Defo the way to go well done Front office!! I now am at the same level of excitement, if not higher! than last years off season!

* Darren 1) – will any of the rookie work outs be open to the masses? Or any other op’s to meet before Flag?

* 2) What happened to Quan Sturdivant? Did he stay on practice squad last season? Will he be back competing this camp?

hey darren, so it know looks that the arizona cardinals have adressed many needs that they had except for the defensive tackle position, will the cardinals look into free agency or will they look at their current roster?

Darren,
I know you don’t know all the numbers but do you have any idea how we are looking as far as cap space goes?? I am totally pumped about the draft, we got some great picks all the way through. Nate Potter in the 7th round, are you kidding, that was a steal of a pick. I just hope we can sign all the picks we made. if we can then the 49ers better not stumble or they will be chasing us this year.

Interesting picks! I don’t too much believe Parker was better than Burfict because you would have heard more from him usually. Burfict is sometimes undisciplined with the personal fouls and in the running lanes but I doubt he ain’t better than Parker.

First off, I find it hilarious that Burfict ended up with the Bengals. It seems like every problem child ends up on their roster at some point or another. Secondly, I’m pretty pumped to see Vassallo on here! BEAR DOWN!

I hope Q. Stuvidant makes our roster..If I recall, he got good marks from “Pro Football Weekly” and he could add much needed depth/and pass rushing ability….and if I recall after watching the draft, that one of our signed FA’s (WR from Anselm), was highly rated as a FA by Mel Kiper in the draft. Did you notice this also…GO Cards!!!!